𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓾𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷 || 𝓡𝓮𝓶𝓾𝓼 𝓛𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓷

chapter three: the feast

The start of term feast was always an enjoyment. The sorting ceremony gave all the students nostalgia as they remembered the year they were sorted. The Frog Choir was a good source of entertainment, even if some found it boring, before Dumbledore's welcoming speech. His speeches were always strange, they introduced the new members of the teaching body (mainly the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher) and then Dumbledore always spoke about something depressing or disturbing which freaked out the first years.

And then there was the food. 

This was the part everyone enjoyed the most, including Aurora.

After the first years had been sorted, Aurora and Amelia had cheered loudly for the new Hufflepuffs, and the Frog Choir had finished singing the song 'Double double, toil and trouble', a song which Aurora believed to be an interpreted line from Shakespeare's Macbeth, Dumbledore began his speech.

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, professor."

Aurora was pleased that the man Dumbledore was talking about was the man who helped Harry on the train.

Professor Lupin awkwardly stood up and bowed. This was welcomed by a round of applause, most of which came from the Gryffindor table—especially from the ones who knew him already.

"Mimi, he's the guy who helped Harry," Aurora whispered to the blonde beside her whilst clapping along with everyone else. 

"Ah, at least he knows his stuff," She whispered back and Aurora couldn't help but agree, "Let's hope he's better than Lockhart, but I'm not sure that'll be difficult." Both girls giggled and looked up at the staff table as Dumbledore continued.

"- Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher for many years has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid."

At this, most started clapping and cheering a lot more than before. Aurora's smile grew much wider as she cheered for one of her favourites at Hogwarts to get the job he deserved. 

Aurora gave Hagrid the widest smile and a thumbs up as she sat down, although she would miss the fanatic Kettelburn. 

Her mood was quickly dampened by Dumbledore's next part of the speech. "Finally, on a more disquieting note at the request of the Ministry of Magic Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban until such a time Sirius Black is captured." 

Aurora looked over to the Gryffindor table, only to catch Harry's eye. Poor boy. She gave him a sympathetic look before turning her attention back to Dumbledore.

"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light."

As soon as he had finished speaking, food appeared on all the tables. From steak to chicken, carrots to parsnips. It was all delicious.

"Well he's cheery this year," Amelia joked and Aurora smiled weakly. She was very nervous about Harry and his now-established connection with the dementors. The duo sat silently as they continued eating, taking in the rich flavour. 

Aurora was glad to be back.

"He never fails to make sure the start-of-year feast turns on its head in the worst way," Amelia smiled widely before digging into the pork and roast potatoes that sat on her plate. Amelia has always loved food. Aurora chuckled and Amelia looked back up, with a mouthful she said, "Don't laugh at me."

"I'm sure Ollie would love to kiss you with half a pig hanging out of your mouth," Aurora said whilst laughing as her best friend sat up straight and removed any evidence of food trying to escape her mouth.

She took this time to examine the teacher's table, something she did every year. But this year she noticed something different, Snape looked angry. Yes, she understood that Snape was always angry but this was different, it was loathing and this look was aimed right at the new Defence teacher. She was determined to figure out why.

Glancing at Lupin, she realised she hadn't had a good look at the new teacher yet, with all the commotion on the train she hadn't had a chance to. He was quite handsome, Aurora thought. Scars littered his face only making him more attractive. His robes were more worn than the other teachers but in her eyes it made him look more homely, more welcoming and this Jasmine loved. His light brown eyes scanned the room with recognition evident but she noticed a hint of sadness and longing. She felt like there was more to him that she needed to find out.

Suddenly, his eyes met hers and she felt embarrassed for staring. She smiled sheepily before looking down at her food pretending to be preoccupied. She felt bad for staring in fear of making him uncomfortable. She looked up again only to notice he had already looked away and she sighed a huge sigh of relief. 

These nerves weren't new to Aurora - she had always been socially awkward, ever since she embarrassed herself in front of her primary school leading to everyone laughing at her. It didn't help that she was self-conscious about her smile. In her eyes, it was lopsided and her lips curved weirdly when she smiled with her teeth. In her friends' eyes, her smile was perfect. 

Aurora began overthinking everything, like she normally does in situations like these but the food changing from mains to desserts shocked her back to reality. 

"Rory, are you alright?" Amelia was looking at her with concern.

"Yeah, fine. You know how I am in large public settings." Amelia nodded in response. Of course, she understood, she had been through every nervous breakdown with her. 

She made eye contact with Amelia and both girls started laughing, they were terrible in serious situations. Aurora looked up and accidentally made eye contact with Professor Lupin, she smiled warmly at him and any nerves she had before were long gone, her smile increased as he smiled politely back at her.

"Prefects will you escort your houses back to the dormitories," Dumbledore's voice boomed over the chatter and soon everyone was standing ready to leave behind their prefects.

The members of Hufflepuff began making their way down the levels of the castle, past the kitchen and toward a pile of barrels. The male prefect taught the first years how to access the common room using the barrels. After they had learnt it, everyone climbed inside. The seventh-year girls headed to their dormitories to get ready for bed. Everyone bid one another goodnight before someone muttered 'Nox' and the lights went out.

Aurora fell asleep quickly with a smile as she anticipated her first day of classes tomorrow.